On October 10, 2024, an officer of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was involved in a shooting incident with a burglary suspect in the Uptown area. NOPD has now released the body camera footage of the encounter, providing a new perspective on the events that led to 63-year-old Dwayne Brown sustaining a gunshot wound. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that the released footage showed how the situation escalated after Brown, who was sought in multiple burglaries and home invasions, resisted arrest.
According to NOPD News, the incident began when officers responded to a residential burglary call early in the morning on State Street and upon arrival discovered firearms taken from a residence, finding Brown hiding in nearby bushes when they approached Brown fled leading to an extensive search. Eventually, he was found under a residence on Perrier Street where an initial apprehension attempt, using a Taser Energy Weapon, was unsuccessful after which the suspect managed to escape once more. It was on Prytania Street where Officer James Godwin encountered Brown, and a physical struggle ensued, during which the suspect armed himself with a revolver and fired at the officer.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick was quoted in a WWL-TV interview describing the standoff, "God's gracious hand, put a shield around this officer because they were literally just feet away." The officer, not hit by the shots, returned fire, striking Brown in the stomach, the NOPD confirmed that the officer's actions were justified, and he has resumed full duty since the incident.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, Brown was arrested and faces an array of charges including one count of attempted first-degree murder, 10 counts of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and other related charges as detailed by WDSU. The NOPD has been transparent in releasing the footage and maintains that this move is under their critical incident review policy, aiming to provide clarity and maintain public trust in these highly sensitive incidents.
